Citing what they call a "secret public relations campaign" against their clients, attorneys for six former NOPD officers tied to crimes on the Danziger Bridge following Hurricane Katrina have filed a motion seeking a new trial.

The remarks were part of Letten's first on-camera interview since the filing of a second lawsuit accusing a member of his team of posting defamatory remarks online.

Letten answered questions as he arrived to speak as part of Loyola University's Institute of Politics, a leadership training course for professionals that features well-known speakers from the community.

Letten's appearance at Loyola comes less than three weeks after he removed Jan Mann from the position of first assistant U.S. attorney, but retained her on his staff. Local businessman Fred Heebe recently filed a civil lawsuit against Mann, accusing her of making disparaging remarks about him and others under an alias on the website Nola.com.

Earlier this year, Heebe filed a similar lawsuit against former Asst. U.S. Attorney Sal Perricone, who resigned in March, days after the filing. That lawsuit is pending.

On Monday, a federal judge unsealed documents related to a motion for retrial of six of the so-called "Danziger officers." The basis of the motion is the allegation of misconduct by Mann and Perricone, and the motion has raised new questions regarding the integrity of some cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"We have an active investigation under way by the U.S. Department of Justice and it would be inappropriate for me to speculate or say anything that would affect that, so I'm not going there," Letten said regarding the matter.

Letten has been hailed by good government groups and local leaders for his work in ferreting out corruption. Though appointed by former Pres. George W. Bush, he was retained by Pres. Barrack Obama, in part based on the recommendation of Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

Letten said he was not focused on whether he will remain U.S. attorney, but rather on the cases that continue to make their way through his office.

"I don't think I have ever speculated about my future publicly," he said. "I just don't do that. I can't worry about my future. I have to worry about the futures of the people in this region, and as long as I have the job, I'll focus on that."

Both Mann and Perricone worked closely with Letten and were considered among his most trusted colleagues. WDSU asked Letten for his thoughts on the developments regarding Mann and Perricone from a personal standpoint.

"One word: Process," he said. "There is a process here and that process is investigation.

"It's going to run its course and I just have to do my job in the meantime."